Imprisoned By Taliban, Faced Humiliation & Now Will Leave Afghanistan, Says Ex-Lawmaker
Shahpoor Hassanzai, a former Afghan lawmaker, claims he was imprisoned by the Taliban, and subjected to harassment, insult, and humiliation.
Shahpoor Hassanzai, a former Afghan lawmaker, claims he was imprisoned by the Taliban, and subjected to harassment, insult, and humiliation.
Hassanzai stated he could not endure such treatment and might leave Afghanistan again.
This former member of the Lower House of the Afghan Parliament fled to Pakistan as the Taliban entered Kabul in August 2021. He later returned to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, a decision he now regrets.
Recently, Hassanzai released a video clip on social media, explaining that he had complained to the Taliban about individuals indebted to him. However, the Taliban released the debtors and instead imprisoned him.
Hassanzai was a controversial figure in the former parliament and criticised the functioning of the previous Afghan government.
He was also accused of land grabbing during the Republic's era, charges he has denied.
Since returning to Afghanistan in recent months, Hassanzai participated in various television programmes, commenting on the Taliban's actions.
The Taliban is yet to respond to the video recently released by Hassanzai.
However, over the past two and a half years, the Taliban has arrested former Afghan parliament members and seized their properties.
Previously, Haider Jan Naimzoi, a representative of the Kochis in the former House of Representatives, was arrested by the Taliban's Minister of Justice, allegedly on charges of land usurpation.
Afghanistan International reported on the personal prison of the Taliban's Minister of Justice in recent days. The Ministry of Justice of the Taliban reacted to this report, stating that, according to a decree from the group's leader, the Taliban's Minister of Justice has the authority to detain suspects of land usurpation for ten days.
